Here at Caputo’s, we believe wholeheartedly in flavor. We celebrate the power of flavor’s ability to tell stories about the world in which we live and eat. It shapes our senses, it holds our histories, and it gives voice to our diversity. Unfortunately, the vast chorus that sings the world’s heirloom flavor notes is under a sustained attack from the rising tides of a globalized economy, a climate in utter crisis, and industrial agriculture’s efforts to homogenize food culture.

Few types of food face this grim reality more acutely than fine chocolate, whose makers rely on rich biodiversity, conscious agricultural practices, and discerning consumer choices to continue producing true bean-to-bar chocolate. No organization works harder to conserve the biological diversity of fine cacao, empower the farming communities in cacao growing regions, and advocate for a terroir-driven industry than the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Initiative. As such, we’ve partnered with the HCP in this quest to preserve cacao culture. Caputo’s has proudly supported the HCP since 2013 by donating all proceeds generated at the annual Caputo’s Chocolate Festival.

Launched in partnership with the USDA and the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, the HCP has made it their mission to identify, map, and preserve the world of high quality, flavorful cacao, and to certify the growers of these endangered trees. As a nonprofit, the HCP “is committed to improving the lives of the farmers who assist us in protecting and preserving cacao diversity and the chocolate they produce. We are proud to be guided by the following values: planet, prosperity, and people.”

Because of their efforts, we are all lucky enough to continue enjoying a diversity of deliciousness, especially in Utah, which is home to such a high concentration of remarkably gifted bean-to-bar chocolate makers. Tickets are still on sale for this year’s Chocolate Festival, taking place on November 17th, and featuring America’s most award-winning chocolate maker, Amano. You can pick them up here. Come, celebrate the power of flavor, and contribute to what we at Caputo’s consider a truly worthy cause.